The Thursday evening (Sept. 2) program at Running Aces was loaded with featured events and great racing.
The $14,375 Minnesota-sired freshman ‘A’ pace event was dominated by Park With Me Nancy, who delivered from the outside post seven as the even money favourite. Driver Luke Plano wasted no time sending the impressive daughter of Wind Me Up to the lead, and she was never in doubt through a 1:56.2 mile, checking in 1-1/2 lengths ahead of pocket sitter Lovin On You (Brady Jenson) with Anotherblazinwoman (Adam Hauser) a farther length back in third. Park With Me Nancy ($4.00) has dominated the freshman filly division this season, and has also had no trouble serving up defeat to the top freshman males on several occasions, as was the case on Thursday. She now has six wins and three second-place finishes in nine career races for owners and breeders Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte. Justin Anfinson is the winning trainer, and also conditions both the second- and third-place finishers.
Rockin With Lou (Dean Magee, $5.20) posted a sharp gate-to-wire performance in this week’s $13,800 Mares Open Handicap pace in 1:53. Magee went right to the front with the favourite from post five, while Luke Plano also sent Hottieonthehorizon away quickly from post six. Rockin With Lou was fastest of the pair and was well in control of the contest throughout. Shesureissomething (Jacob Cutting) made a mid-race move to come after the leader, but was forced to settle for second as the leader continued to pace strongly through the lane to post a 1-1/4-length tally. Rojo Caliente (Tony Kerwood) rallied from last to get third money. The winner now shows six wins in 18 starts this year for owner-trainer Gerald Longo.
Fiffer Feffer Fef (Rick Magee, $6.40) posted his first career win in the $8,625 freshman ‘B’ pace in 1:58.3 with a big late rally from off the pace to draw away in the lane by 3-3/4 lengths over Time For T (Mooney Svendsen) and One Step Away (Adam Hauser). The winner is a gelded son of Easy Again owned by Merlin Van Oterloo and trained by Brett Ballinger.
Wish I Had Thyme (Gerald Longo, $11.60) scored a gate-to-wire win by a neck in the $5,750 freshman ‘C’ division for her first career score. The daughter of It’s That Time paced home in :29.3 to post a 2:00 winning mile for owner John Rogers and trainer Jenni King.
Alilthundadownunda (Luke Plano, $2.10) delivered another sharp performance in the $8,100 sophomore Open Handicap Pace, recovering from a bobble at the start and then surging from last to first mid-race. Once on the front of the field, there was little mystery as to the final result. Early pacesetter Maze (Rick Magee) pulled the pocket in the lane but Alilthundadownunda responded with a strong finish in the final eighth of a mile to keep his rivals at bay, getting home a length on top of Maze in 1:55.4 with SD Watchmenow (Brian Detgen) checking in third. The winner now has 13 wins this year, and has won 12 of 13 starts at Running Aces for owners Set The Pace Racing and trainer Nick Roland.
Driver Rick Magee led the Thursday program with three wins while Luke Plano posted a double. Trainer Justin Anfinson also registered a double on the card.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (Sept. 5) with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT), and carryovers of $1,843.06 in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 and $2,453.34 in the 50-cent Hi-5.
(Running Aces)